Can sealer



Oct. 18, 1938.

c. NELSON 2,133,869

CAN SEALER Filed July 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CARL NELSON ATTORNEY-5 W, EM W Oct. 18, 1938.

C. NELSON 01m SEALER Filed July 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WwW 2 R V E M N N Ar'ro Shegts-Sheet 3 C. NELSON CAN SEALER.

Filed July 8, 1935 Get. 18, 1938.

Patented 6a- 18, 1938 4 PATENT OFFICE can sauna Carl Nelson, Eau Claire, wis assignor to National Pressure Cooker Company, Eau Claire, Wis" a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 8, 1935, Serial No; c6344 6 Claims. (01. 113-23) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can sealers, and one of the important objects of the invention resides in the novel means provided for supporting the seaming rollers, whereby they may be accurately adjusted with respect to the can so as to accurately fold the flanges of the closure and caninto sealing engagement with one another, thereby to hermetically seal the can.

A further object is to provide a can sealerrecesses adapted to receive the ends of a connecting bar, and the ends of said connecting bar being adjustably secured in positiorr in said recesses by clamping elements supported in the blocks; and means being provided for reciprocating the bar, thereby to alternately move the seaming rollers into and out of sealing engage- 3 ment with the can closure.

the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the'exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a can'sealer showing the invention embodied in the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a front view of the can sealer;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the upper portion of the sealer;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional plan viewon the line 44 of Figure 1, showing a portion of the driving mechanism; 7

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the means for adjusting the seaming rollers with respect to the can;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-6 of Figure 1, showing the means for operat- Other objects of the invention will appear from ing the arms which support the seaming rollers; Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1'| of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a top view of the upper chuck plate removed from the machine.

'The novel can sealer herein disclosed, is shown comprising a base 2 having laterally extending lugs 3 adapted to engage the surface 'of a table or suitable support,-such as indicated at 4 in Figure 1. Clamping elements 5 are received in threaded engagement with suitable lugs 6 and cooperate with the lugs 3 to clamp the can sealer to the support 4. A shaft 1 is rotatably supported in a bore 8 in the base, and has secured to its upper end a chuck plate 9, upon which the can I0 is supported, as indicated in'broken lines in Figure 1. The chuck plate 9 is adapted for vertical movement by a cam, generally indicated by the numeral II, which is operated by a suitable lever l2.' In Figures 1 and-2, the lever I2 is shown in its normal position, in which the chuck plate '9 is in its lowermost position. When the lever is rotated to the left, when viewed as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cam device II will elevate the chuck plate, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, thereby to securely clamp the can in position in the can sealer. A suitable thrust bearing I3 is shown interposed between the hub of the chuck plate 9 and the upper portion of the cam device II, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The chuck plate 9 is adapted to rotate freely in the bearing 8, when the can is rotated by the driving mechanism provided in the upper portion of the can sealer and which will subsequently be described.-

A driven chuck plate i4 is provided in the upper portion of the can sealer and is detachably secured to a bevel gear l5 which, in turn, is

secured to a shaft l6, mounted in suitable bearings l1 and I8 provided in a cross head, generally indicated by the numeral l9. If desired, a suitable thrust bearing may be interposed between the upper end of the hub of the gear l5 and the bearing II, as shown in Figure 1.

gear l5 by shouldered studs 2|, secured to the The chuck plate I4 is showndetachably secured to the bevel gear, and received in key slots 22 provided in the I chuck plate, as best shown in Figure 8. A central aperture 23 is also provided in the chuck plate adapted to receive the lower terminal of the shaft 16 and whereby the chuck plate is axially alined with the shaft.

The chuck plate I4 is driven from a pinion 24 rotatably supported upon a stud 25 secured to the cross head l9, as best shown in Figure 1. A suitclosure 29, so that when the chuck plate is ries a seaming roller 32.

rotated, the can will be rotated therewith. The

chuck plate I4 is made in difierent sizes, corresponding to standard can sizes, and is interchangeably supported upon the bevel gear l5.

The'cross head I9 is supported by a pair of upright posts 20 having their lower ends suitably secured to the base 2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. Arms 29 are fiivotally supported upon the upper ends of the posts 20 between shoulders 36 and 3| formed thereon, and each arm car- The ends of the arms which support the seaming rollers are preferably forked, as shown in Figure 2, and have pivot screws 33 and 34 adjustably secured in the spaced legs thereof. These pivot screws have doneshaped terminals adapted to be received incorrespondingly shaped sockets provided in the seaming rollers, as best shown in Figure 2. By thus supporting the seaming rollers 32 in the arms 29, the rollers may readily be vertically adjusted to accurately aline them with the can closure and the upper chuck plate, and excessive play resulting from wear may also be taken up.

The upper terminals 35 of the posts 20 are received in suitable apertures provided in the cross head l9, and have nuts 36 received in threaded engagement therewith, whereby the cross head is securely clamped against the shoulders 30 of the posts 20, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 2.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the novel means provided for alternately moving the seaming rollers 29 into engagement with the can closure, thereby to roll the marginal edge of the closure and the flange of the can body into sealing engagement with each other to hermetically seal the can. Such means is best shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, and comprises a connecting bar 39 having a forked element 4| secured thereto by such means as screws 42, shown in Figures 3 and 5. The forked element 4| is adapted to be engaged by a cam 43 mounted for relative rotation upon the shaft I6, and having an internal gear 44, shown integrally formed therewith, as best shown in Figure 1. A cap 45 is secured to the upper portion of the cross head I9 by suitable .screws 46. This cap has an internal gear,.41 disposed directly above the internal gear 44 of the cam 43. The upper portion of the cross head l9 has a cylindrical bore 48, in which the internal gear 44 of the cam 43 is rotatably supported, and in which the internal gear 41 of the cap 45 is also supported, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the internal gear 44 of the cam 43 is mounted for relative rotation in the bore 48 of the cross head l9, while the internal gear 41 of the cap 45 is fixedly supported therein. a v

The internal gear 44 has a relatively greater number of teeth than the fixed gear 41, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. In the-present in-.

stance, I have shown the gear 41 provided with eighteen teeth and the gear 44 with twenty teeth.

To impart rotation to the cam 43, a star wheel 43 is shown mounted for rolling movement in the fixed internal gear 41 of the cap 45. The star wheel 49 is supported in a forked arm 5i, shown secured to the shaft l6 by a suitable set screw 52. whentheshai't I6 is rotated by manipulation of the crank 46, the star wheel 49 will roll in the internal gears 44 and 41, and, because of the differential in the number of teeth of the gears 44 and 41, for each revolution of the shaft l6, the cam 43 will rotate substantially onetentth of a revolution or the spacing between two tee h. v

The above described mechanism provides a very efficient drive for the cam '43 and gradually moves the seaming rollers 32 into and out of engagement with the can closure, as the crank 26 is constantly rotated in one direction. It will also be noted that by supporting the internal gear 44 upon the cam 43, as shown in Figure 1, a

chamber is provided above the cam adapted to support a suitable lubricant, and whereby the star wheel 49 and associated quately lubricated.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided for operatively connecting the arms 29 of the seaming rollers to the connecting bar 39, whereby the seaming rollers may readily be adjusted for diiferent sizes of cans, and also whereby they are independently adjustable to accurately position them with respect to the can closure.

To thus connect the arms 32 and 33 to the connecting bar 39, suitable blocks 53 are pivotally supported in the forked ends 54 of the arms 29,

parts may be adeas clearly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Suitable coupling pins 56 are selectively receivable in a plurality of apertures 51, 58, and 59, provided in the forked ends 54 of the arms and in apertures 6| and 62 in the blocks 53. The apertures 6| in the blocks 53 are adapted to be alined with the apertures 51 and 59 of the forked ends 54 of the arms 29, and the apertures 62 of the blocks are adapted to be alined with the apertures 58 of the arms, as will be clearlyunderstood by reference to Figures 5 and 6. It will thus be seen that the apertures above described provide means whereby the arms 29 may be quickly adjusted for different sizes of cans, by simply removing the coupling pins 56 and inserting them in the apertures corresponding to the size can to be sealed. ,The connecting bar 39 is provided at its ends with suitable openings 63 for receiving the coupling pins 6 l as best shown in Figures 5 and '1.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided for independently adjusting the arms 29 whereby the seaming rollers may be accurately adjusted with respect to the can so as to tightly roll the marginal edge of the closure and the can flange into sealing engagement with one another to thereby hermetically seal the can.

The means provided for thus relatively adjusting the arms 29 is best shown in Figures 5 and 6, and consists of providing each block 53 with a recess 64 adapted to receive the ends of the connecting bar 39. Adjusting screws 65 are provided in the ends of the blocks 53 and have their terminals engaging the opposite ends of the connecting bar 39, whereby the blocks 53 may be relatively adjusted with respect to the ends of the connecting bar 39, to thereby relatively adjust the arms 29 with respect. to one another and the can. Lock nuts 66 secure the adjusting screws 65 in adjusted positions. Suitable set screws 61 are also mounted in the blocks 53 and are adapted to engage the connecting bar .39, thereby to securely lock it in position in the recesses 54 of the blocks 53, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 5.

By operatively connecting the arms 29to the connecting bar, as above described, it will readily be seen that the arms may be quickly adjusted for different sizes of cans, by simply shifting the coupling pins 56 from one set of holes to another.

The holes 51, 58, and 59 are preferably marked as, for example, No. 1, No.2 and No. 3, respectively,

corresponding to standard can sizes. The adjust-- ing screws 65 provide an adjustment whereby the arms may be accurately and conveniently adjusted with respect to the can, as hereinbefore stated. When once the ends of the connecting bar 58 and 59 in the arms 29 provide means whereby ca e of such variation by manipulation of the adjusting screws 65 and the setscrews 61.

In the operation of this novel can sealer, the

can is placed between the chuck plates 9 and l4,

as indicated by the broken lines I!) in Figure l, and the lever I2 is then swung in a clockwise direction, whereby the chuck plate 9 is elevated to thereby force the cam into driving engagement with the upper chuck plate I4. The crank 26 is then operated, whereupon the cam 43 is slowly rotated and thereby imparts a reciprocal movement to the connecting bar 39, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 6. Such reciprocal movement of the connecting bar 39 will alternately move the seaming.rollers 29 and 3| into engagement with the marginal edge of the can closure and the flange of the can body, whereby said flanges are rolled into sealing engagement with one another and with the can body to thereby seal the can. The internal gears 44 and 41 and the star wheel 49 provide a simple and efiicient speed reducing mechanism, whereby the rotation of the shaft l6 and the cam 43 is greatly reduced, with respect to the rotation of the crank 26. It will also be noted that by thus slowly and alternately moving the seaming rollers into and out of engagement with the can closure and the can body, the can will be rotated several revolutions during the period that each seaming roller is in seaming engagement with the can closure, thereby assuring that the marginal edge of the can closure and the edge of the can body are suitably united to hermetically seal the can beforethe cycle of operation is completed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a can sealer, a frame, chuck plates for supporting a can, a mechanism for driving one of said chuck plates to rotate the can, an arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said frame and having a seaming roller atone end, a block pivotally supported in the opposite end of the arm and having a recess therein, a bar operatively engaged with said driving mechanism, means adjustably securing one end of said bar in said recess whereby the seaming roller may be accurately adjusted with respect to the can, and means independent of said adjusting means for positioning the seaming roller for different sizes of cans.

2. In a can sealer, a frame, chuck plates for supporting a can, a mechanism for driving one of said chuck plates to rotate the can, arms mounted for pivotal movement on the frame and each carrying at one end a seaming roller, blocks pivotally mounted in the opposite ends of said arms and each having a recess, a connecting bar having a drivingconnection with said operating mechanism and having portions received in said recesses, and means for adjustably securing the bar in said recesses and whereby the seaming ro1l-- ers are independently adjustable with respect to the can.

3. In a can sealer, a frame, chuck plates for 7 supporting a can, means for driving one of said chuck plates to rotate the can, a plurality of seaming rollers arms mounted for pivotal movement a on the frame and supporting said rollers, a connecting bar having an operative connection with said driving means, a block secured to each end of the bar and pivotally connected to said arms, and means for longitudinally adjusting said blocks on the bar, and whereby the seaming rollers may be adjusted independently of one another to accurately position them 'with respect to the can.

4. In a can sealer, a frame, chuck plates for supporting a can, driving meanstherefor, arms mounted for pivotal movement on the frame, a seaming roller mounted at one end of each arm, a connecting bar operatively associated with said driving means, an element pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said arms and each having a recess adapted to receive the ends of the connecting bar, and means for adjustably securing the bar in said recesses, whereby the seaming rollers may be accurately positioned with respect to the therein adapted to be alined with the apertures in said arms, a. connecting bar having an operative connection with said driving means, and coupling pins selectively receivable in said apertures and whereby the seaming rollers may be conveniently positioned for different sizes of cans.

6. In a can sealer, a'frame, can supporting means, an operating mechanism therefor, arms 'mounted for pivotal movement on the frame and each carrying a seaming roller at one end, the opposite ends of said arms being forked, blocks pivotally supported in the forked ends of said arms and each having a longitudinal recess therein, a connecting bar operatively connected to said operating mechanism and having its end portions received in said recesses, and adjusting screws in said blocks having their terminals engaging the connecting bar and providing adjustment between the ends of the connecting bar and said adjusting blocks, whereby the seaming rollers may be accurately positioned with respect to the can, and means for securing the connecting bar in ad- Justed position in said blocks. I

, CARL NELSON. 

